La Lolita Barcelona — Restaurant in Barcelona

If you are from London and looking for a Halal restaurant in Barcelona, this is the only review you need to read

Summary: In short, the food is abysmal. If you are used to the Halal food scene in London then do not (and I mean do not) waste an evening here or in the sister restaurant next door (The Steak House). Every single table around us (bar one) either complained or nearly (and I kid you not) had a fight with a waiter.

From start to finish, the entire experience from food to service to atmosphere was abysmal. We walked in with 0 expectations (i.e., we knew it was overhyped and that the five-star reviews and Google ratings were too good to be true) and yet it still somehow was far worse than we could have imagined.

Getting a menu: Tables seated before us did not have a menu. We had to actively chase down a waiter in order to get a menu. The other tables around us did not realise they had to do the same thing and only once they realised that the waiters must be chased, did they ask for them. In fact, one table of 4 sat across us nearly got into an argument with a defensive waiter when they complained about this (amongst other things).

Being served: There is absolutely no process for taking orders. It’s not as you might expect from London where specific waiters take care of specific tables. You are at the mercy of flagging down a waiter as and when they happen to walk by (most of whom ignore you) - this has been mentioned in other reviews and it is completely true. To be fair this does appear to be the case in other restaurants we visited during our time in Barcelona and is not necessarily unique to this restaurant.

Food: We ordered the aubergine chips, the (apparently) homemade meatballs (because the chorizo was finished) and the Angus steak (with chips) which we asked to be cooked medium rare. Simply put - it was awful. Perhaps the only passable thing was the aubergine chips but even then if you bought these in London you would be asking for a refund. Let’s talk about the steak. We are almost certain they get the steak from the sister restaurant next door (The Steak House). It came raw. Not rare, raw. We asked for it to be cooked some more and the waiter obliged. When it came back to us, it was browner on the outside but still raw (pictures below if you don’t believe us) - this is after we asked for it to be cooked some more. In our experience this only happens when steaks are cooked from frozen or cooked poorly on too high of a heat. From the waiter’s reaction to our request, it seemed like he knew the chefs could not cook a steak/the steaks are usually an issue.

Getting the cheque: Once again, you have to chase waiters for the cheque. One of us had to get up and walk around the restaurant to find a waiter and ask for the cheque. Moral of the story - if you don’t chase down the waiters, you will not be served. There are other reviews here which mention that getting the bill is difficult - they are absolutely correct.

Getting the change: The cherry on top is that after paying in cash, one of us had to get up, make our way to the till and ask for our change.

Miscellaneous: We saw 3 other tables complain. Each time the waiter was defensive and rude. In general the wait staff seemed to be rude and dismissive. We suspect that they spend the whole day getting complaints and this has worn them down. As we were leaving we passed a woman passionately complaining and pleading with them and we overhead and I quote, “I have never been treated like this … we are all humans, please be nice”.

The service is something we have never experienced in any country or restaurant ever. Most of the time the negative experience was directed at the other tables around us. What we have learnt is that the Halal food scene in Barcelona has a lot of catching up to do. Please, please, please just eat at a local independent Spanish restaurant (and order vegetarian or seafood dishes) in order to get the best experience. For example, Vinitius and Tapas 2254 are solid options for...

Avoid at all costs! One of the worst dining experiences I’ve had and I have no idea how this restaurant is so highly rated, it was absolutely disgusting.

First off the hygiene issue, the man responsible for checking the dishes before service actually ATE one of our garlic shrimp right in front of us. Yes, he grabbed it off the plate with his fingers and popped it into his mouth while waiting for the rest of the food to be ready. I saw it clearly because we were seated very close to it and the food was coming out so slowly that I couldn’t help but keep watching. Absolutely unacceptable.

The service was non existent. We got seated, handed menus, and then were ignored until we were ready to order. No one came to check in, no water offered, nothing. The place wasn’t even that busy.

When the food finally arrived, pretty much all at once and the same guy who ate our shrimp brought us the chicken paella - I asked if he could help us take a photo. He told me to wait and then told one of the waiter to do it for us, I waited for a few minutes… no one showed up. So I just took a selfie and moved on. I can understand if the restaurant was busy, but it wasn’t!!

Here’s what we ordered: Garlic Shrimp - completely bland and rubbery, now I know why. It sat too long while waiting for the rest of the dishes… and again, someone had already eaten off the plate!

Chicken Paella - the rice was practically raw, not al dente, uncooked. The chicken? Meh. Barely seasoned.

Sangria - we’ve tried sangria at 18 places during our trip, this was hands-down the worst.

Steak and Fries - honestly, this was the worst steak I’ve ever had. Tough, chewy, flavorless. I couldn’t even finish half. And I’m a steak guy, I know what a decent cut should taste like. This wasn’t even grocery store quality. If this had been served at an all-inclusive resort buffet, I’d still be disappointed.

To top it off, the entire staff gave off a vibe of carelessness, like they knew tourists would keep coming anyway so no effort was needed.

This place is all hype and zero quality. Don’t be fooled by the high ratings or curated food pics. Horrible service, slow, rude, and the food was trash. And watch out! The guy might eat your food without you knowing it!! Save yourself the regret. This place should be avoided...

From the moment we walked in, it was clear that this restaurant takes pride in every single detail — and I mean every one. The entire evening was a flawless experience, from the warm welcome at the door to the last bite of dessert.

The food was absolutely phenomenal. Every dish we tried was bursting with flavor, clearly made with fresh, high-quality ingredients and a passion for cooking. You can tell the chefs here don’t just follow recipes — they pour heart into their craft. The flavors were perfectly balanced, the presentation was beautiful, and the portions were generous without being overwhelming. Whether you’re a fan of traditional classics or more creative dishes, the menu offers something for everyone — and everything we tasted was cooked to perfection.

The ambiance was equally impressive: elegant yet cozy, with a relaxing atmosphere that makes you want to linger. Soft music, tasteful décor, and spotless surroundings made the setting ideal for a special dinner or even a casual evening out. It’s the kind of place where you feel instantly comfortable, but also like you’re being treated to something truly special.

Now, I absolutely must give special thanks to Manjit and Yassin who made our evening unforgettable. His hospitality, professionalism, and genuine kindness made all the difference. From offering thoughtful recommendations to checking in at just the right times, he ensured that we were always well taken care of — without ever being intrusive. It’s rare to find someone so attentive, warm, and dedicated. Manjit was truly the heart of the experience and a shining example of top-notch service.

I’ve been to many restaurants, but this one stands out in every possible way. Exceptional food, inviting atmosphere, and service that goes above and beyond — what more could you ask for?

Highly, highly recommended. I’ll definitely be coming back — and bringing friends...